UNI football feeling good about experienced linebackers and defensive backs

Editor’s note: Fourth in a six-part series looking at Northern Iowa ahead of the 2022 football season.

CEDAR FALLS — Behind Northern Iowa’s young, budding defensive line are a number of experienced linebackers and defensive backs.

Sixth-year seniors Spencer Cuvelier and Bryce Flater — who earned preseason All-America recognition from Hero Sports — anchor UNI’s linebacker corps.

Despite missing four games to injury, Cuvelier finished third among all Panthers in tackles last season with 75. Flater, who played in all 12 games but split time with Riley Van Whye, finished fifth on the team with 70 tackles.

The duo combined for 10 1/2 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

“Flater is just a solid, good linebacker with how he plays. He plays like an old school linebacker,” UNI Coach Mark Farley said. “(Cuvelier) plays the same way.”

Quality depth exists behind Cuvelier and Flater in Ben Belken, Jake McLaughlin and Washington State transfer Peni Naulu.

With linebacker looking like UNI’s sturdiest position, its defensive backfield boasts plenty of options, but features competition similar to the wide receiver corps.

“We’ve got to get multiple guys to find five good ones and you better have five to win,” Farley said.

Benny Sapp III enters 2022 as the presumptive leader of the Panthers’ defensive backfield. Sapp earned preseason All-America honors from Hero Sports after recording four interceptions, three pass breakups and 52 tackles a season ago.

“He’s just flat good,” Farley said. “He’s got a great talent, but he’s a great talent because he’s got great energy.”

Besides Sapp, Stefan Black II and Woo Governor are poised to start at cornerback while senior Jevon Brekke is positioned to start opposite Sapp at the other safety spot. At nickelback, redshirt sophomore Edwin Dearman has all but won the hybrid position, according to Farley.

Among the depth options mentioned were Western Kentucky transfer Miguel Edwards and Western Illinois transfer Damien Crumitie. Edwards and Crumitie are two of four upperclassman transfers brought in this offseason.

“There’s (more players) I could talk about,” Farley said. “We’re trying to get guys — just like the wide receivers — (and) bring some established guys in here because, again, that’s one of those positions where you gotta be fast and you got to be smart to play here.

“If they play right, might get nicked up, and then the next guy in has got to be just as good and that’s why we have to develop that depth there and that’s why we did what we did.”